Chapter Text
The morning after the banquet, the air on Halcyon Prime felt crisp, carrying the faint scent of a flower that reminded Kathryn of lavender. Voyager’s Captain walked through the corridors of the Etharian High Command, her boots clicking sharply against the translucent floor. Beside her, the Doctor hummed a light opera tune, his mobile emitter glowing faintly on his shoulder.
“I must say, Captain, the Etharian architecture is quite stimulating,” the Doctor remarked, visibly excited to be there. “Though I am more interested in seeing if their rehabilitation centers are as advanced as the Prime Minister claimed. They must be, seeing that the Kysar don’t need regeneration at all.”
They were met at the entrance of the medical wing by Elias who was becoming their official guide. He offered a deep, respectful bow, not to the Doctor, but specifically to the Captain.
“Welcome, Captain. And may I offer my most sincere congratulations,” Elias said, his voice warm with genuine delight. “On finding your other half. The news of your Lo-Aï bond has already spread through the High Command. It is a blessing upon our new alliance.” he said enthusiastically. He seemed genuinely happy for the Captain.
Janeway felt the back of her neck heat up. “Thank you, Elias. It was… quite a surprise.”
“A surprise?” The Doctor chimed in, his eyebrows shooting upward. “Captain, the entire Mess Hall cheered for you. I think Seven of Nine’s brother shed a few tears of happiness.”
“Doctor, that’s enough,” Kathryn muttered, quickening her pace.
As they transitioned toward the primary labs, they passed an open courtyard where a group of Kysar guards were engaged in mid-morning drills. The clash of practice foils and the rhythmic shouting of commands filled the air. In the center of the formation was Seven. She had exchanged her formal tailcoat for a sleeveless training tunic, her movements a blur of silver and precision as she disarmed two opponents simultaneously.
Janeway tried to keep her gaze fixed forward, her jaw set in a mask of professional indifference, but the resolve lasted less than a heartbeat. Her eyes betrayed her, drifting toward the courtyard as if drawn by a magnet.
Seven was a vision of lethal elegance in the morning light. The sleeveless and silver training tunic revealed the powerful, fluid musculature of her arms and shoulders, strength that was usually hidden beneath the heavy silk of her formal uniform. As she moved, her skin caught the sunlight, highlighting the metal implants that traced her upper arm like delicate jewelry. Her hair was tied in a messy ponytail and a few strands were flying freely with each movement she was making. Overhaul there was a raw, primal grace in the way she pivoted, a bead of sweat tracing a slow path down the hollow of her throat.
Kathryn followed the path and felt a sudden, traitorous heat rise to her cheeks. It wasn't just the physical beauty; it was the sheer, unapologetic power Seven radiated. The Captain was enthralled ; watching someone so utterly in command of their own body and so focused on her was intoxicating.
But the Doctor didn't miss the way her steps slowed down as Seven was in sight.
"Captain," his voice sharp as ever cut through her thoughts like a scalpel, "if you stare any harder, I’ll have to report a localized atmospheric disturbance caused by your internal temperature."
"I was... analyzing her technique, Doctor," Janeway snapped, though her voice lacked its usual bite.
"Naturally," he replied, his tone dripping with holographic sarcasm. "The technique of the Guardian is truly... captivating."
Seven noticed them. She signaled a halt to the drills and began walking toward the balcony railing, wiping a bead of sweat from her brow with a towel. As she once again bent the knee in front of the Captain, her blue eyes locked onto Janeway’s with the same intensity she’d held the night before.
“Captain. Doctor,” Seven greeted them, her voice slightly raspy from the exertion. “I trust your morning has been productive.”
“Exceedingly,” the Doctor replied, a mischievous glint in his eyes. “Though the Captain seems to be suffering from a slight increase in blood pressure and a distinct avoidance of eye contact. I was just about to recommend a sedative, but I suspect the treatment is right in front of us.”
Seven’s lips quirked into the smallest of smiles. “I was unaware that honesty caused such physiological distress in humans.”
“Please Seven, stand up” Kathryn urgently said “and it’s not the honesty,” she continued, forcing herself to look in the eyes of the younger woman. “It’s the… public nature of it. We still need to discuss the details of your declaration in private.”
“I am available at your convenience, Kathryn,” Seven replied, her gaze softening for a fleeting moment.
“Good Morning Guardian, it is wonderful to see you.” said Elias, interrupting the moment. “I am sorry to interrupt, but we are expected by our scientist team.”
“I will see you this afternoon then,” Seven concluded, her smile small but possessive, a silent promise that the afternoon would involve more than just technical readouts.
She gave a crisp, formal nod to Elias, but her eyes lingered on Kathryn for a heartbeat longer than protocol required. As she turned back to her squad, the snap of her command echoed through the courtyard, and Janeway found herself watching the fluid line of Seven's back until Elias cleared his throat with a knowing, gentle patience.
“This way, Captain,” the Emissary said, gesturing toward the sterile, silver-arched hallway of the medical wing.
Janeway fell into step, her pulse finally beginning to settle, though the ghost of Seven’s gaze felt like a physical weight on her skin. Beside her, the Doctor was practically vibrating with observations he knew better than to voice.
“It is a rare thing, Captain,” Elias remarked as they walked. “The Kysars are…guarded. But Seven of Nine has always been an exception to our rules. It seems she has found someone who matches her intensity.”
“She’s certainly intense,” Janeway managed, her voice regaining its diplomatic iron. “Now, about these rehabilitation centers, Elias. I’m curious to see how you bridge the gap between cybernetic trauma and organic recovery.”
The tour of the laboratory was a whirlwind of advanced bio-regeneration and neural technology. While the Doctor was almost kidnapped by an eager team of Etharian specialists who treated him with a reverence that did wonders for his ego, Janeway found her mind drifting back to the Mess Hall.
The image was vivid: the silver-and-black uniforms of the Kysars, the sudden, hushed reverence of the Ministers, and Seven’s hand holding her own as she spoke of Soulmates. She could still feel the heat of the room, the scent of the Talaxian wine, and the sheer, staggering embarrassment of being the center of a mystical celebration she barely understood.
She remembered the way the Prime Minister had approached her afterward, clapping her on the shoulder with a heavy, jewel-encrusted hand. “A match of fire and ice, Captain. May your bond never fade.”
She had stammered something about Starfleet regulations and "discussing it in private," but Seven had simply stood there, looking at her as if they were the only two people in the Delta Quadrant.
—--
By the time Janeway returned to Voyager, after a lunch with the scientist teams they met, she was exhausted. She was looking for the quiet and sturdiest atmosphere of her Ready Room, but as the doors hissed open, she stopped dead in her tracks.
"What the hell" she whispered.
The room was transformed. What had once been her workspace, often full of PADDs and coffee mugs, was now a vibrant, floral-scented grotto. Crystalline fruit baskets sat on her desk; a hand-woven silver tapestry, depicting the twin suns of Halcyon prime, hung over her replicator. There were even small, glowing icons of Kysar protectors tucked between her science reports. Countless flower bouquets scattered all around the room.
Every gift bore a card. Every card congratulated her for finding her Lo-Aï.
Janeway sat down in her chair, moving a vase of bioluminescent lilies to make room for her elbows. She rubbed her temples, a tired laugh escaping her lips. "What is happening to me ?”
However, she tried to not get too distracted by her surroundings and quickly went to work. She was halfway through a report on the shield modifications when the door chime rang. “Enter” she said, too occupied by reading to look at the door.
Seven stepped in, her training tunic replaced by her high-collared duty uniform. She stopped, her eyes sweeping over the mountain of tributes with a look of mild approval.
"It appears," Seven said, her voice dry but not without a hint of amusement, "that my people have a very high opinion of our compatibility, Kathryn."
“Seven of Nine,” the Captain said, her voice hitching slightly. She hadn't expected to see the Guardian before the scheduled Astrometrics briefing. Kathryn’s grip tightened on her PADD, her throat suddenly dry as she took in the woman standing in her doorway. Breathtaking, she thought, a single, intrusive realization that momentarily crowded out every other professional duty.
“Please, Kathryn. Call me Seven,” the former drone requested softly.
“I… I didn’t expect you before the meeting,” Janeway managed, trying to reclaim her composure.
“You expressed a desire to speak privately,” Seven explained. Sensing the Captain’s visible discomfort, she took a slight step back, her expression softening with uncharacteristic hesitation. “I apologize if my presence is poorly timed. I should have requested an appointment.”
“No… it’s fine, Seven. Really.” Janeway stood up, moving toward the replicator by sheer force of habit. It was a retreat into a diplomatic mode, a safe harbor of protocol she knew by heart. “Can I get you something to drink?”
“I do not require sustenance at this moment,” the blonde replied. She followed Kathryn into the lounge area of the Ready Room, her eyes tracking the Captain's struggle with the heavy, ornate silver tapestry that was hiding the replicator.
Seeing Janeway fumbling with the thick Etharian material, Seven moved behind her to assist.
Kathryn could feel the taller woman’s presence like a physical heat at her back, towering over her with a calm, steady strength. A delicate, floral perfume drifted from Seven, a scent so unexpected and alluring that, for a split second, Janeway closed her eyes, allowing herself a single heartbeat to simply enjoy the fragrance before reality pulled her back.
The silence in the Ready Room stretched, thick and heavy with the scent of the flower surrounding them and the proximity of the woman standing just inches behind her. As Seven reached up to help unhook the silver tapestry, her arm brushed against Kathryn’s shoulder. The contact was brief, but it sent a jolt through Janeway that no amount of replicated coffee could ever mimic.
“The craftsmanship is superior,” Seven murmured, her voice vibrating low and near Kathryn’s ear. “It is meant to symbolize the convergence of two paths. My people are not subtle when it comes to their beliefs."
Kathryn finally managed to pull the fabric down, turning around to face Seven. The tapestry felt heavy in her arms, a physical manifestation of the sudden, overwhelming expectations of an entire civilization. She looked up, finding Seven’s blue eyes watching her with a terrifyingly calm intensity.
She said nothing and put aside the gift, before turning and ordering a cup of coffee from the replicator.
“Seven, about last night...” Janeway began, her diplomatic mask slipping just enough to show the flicker of uncertainty beneath. She moved to the couch and gestured for Seven to join her; the younger woman followed. She seemed to hesitate on her next move and Kathryn was prepared to ask her not to bend the knee, however the Guardian decided to sit next to her, to her relief.
“I embarrassed you in front of your crew, didn’t I?” Seven asked in a low voice, reading the Captain’s hesitation with unsettling accuracy.
“It was... unexpected, that's for sure,” Kathryn admitted, a small, wry smile reaching her eyes. “But in retrospect, you were speaking from the heart. It was actually quite sweet.”
“I stayed up late studying the data you gave me,” Seven said, her gaze dropping for a moment to her hands. “Beyond the information about my family, I began to understand how unconventional my declaration was by human standards. But I meant every word, Kathryn. From the moment I shook your hand, I felt a spark. You captivated me. I have been involved with others in the past, some even claimed we were 'meant to be'...but I only truly understand the weight of a Lo-Aï when my eyes meet yours.”
“Seven...” Janeway’s voice softened, the professional walls crumbling. Without thinking about it, she put her hand on Seven’s. “I won’t lie to you. I feel something too. You’re intriguing and brilliant, and... beautiful. But we don’t know each other at all. How can you be so certain that we are meant to be?”
“Call it a 'gut feeling,' as your people say,” Seven replied, a hint of a challenge in her blue eyes. “Will you spend time with me then? To truly get to know one another. Away from your ship, away from the prying eyes of your crew or the pressure of my people sending you gifts. Just us.”
Janeway’s smile grew at the younger woman’s earnest rambling. She felt that undeniable tugging in her chest again. “I don’t know, Seven. We’re going to be quite busy, and I have a ship to run, and-”
The sharp chime of the Ready Room door interrupted her mid-sentence. Kathryn practically jumped, withdrawing her hand from Seven’s and standing up quickly, her face flushing a furious shade of crimson.
“Enter!” she called out, smoothing her tunic with trembling fingers.
The door hissed open, and the Chief of Security stepped into the Ready Room.
“Captain, the Etharian delegation has arrived; we are ready to commence the briefing,” Tuvok said in a single, efficient breath. He then paused, his dark eyes shifting toward the lounge area where Seven was still seated on the couch.
“I am sorry to have interrupted your... meeting,” he added, his voice as neutral as ever, though the slight hesitation in his cadence didn't go unnoticed.
“It’s quite all right, Tuvok. We were simply waiting for the others to arrive,” Kathryn said, though she knew she had failed utterly at taming the blush still burning on her cheeks.
In a way, she was relieved it was Tuvok who had walked in. His Vulcan discipline would almost certainly prevent him from the kind of relentless teasing she’d expect from Tom or Chakotay, a small mercy she desperately needed at that moment.
She smoothed her uniform one last time and looked over at the blonde woman, who was now standing with a calm and chivalry grace.
“Let’s go, Seven. Shall we?”
–
The briefing room hummed with a different kind of energy as the meeting commenced. The primary objective was clear: establishing a definitive action plan for the massive overhaul of Voyager’s Astrometrics lab.
Seven took the floor immediately. She had spent the previous hours conducting an exhaustive comparative analysis of Etharian sensor arrays versus Federation equivalent technology. With surgical precision, and a piece of technology from the Etharian, she projected a series of holographic schematics that hovered over the briefing table, detailing exactly which components could be integrated and which required total reconstruction.
“Based on these compatibility vectors,” Seven explained, her voice steady and professional, “I have developed a schedule. To meet the two-week deadline, we must begin phase one, the primary power grid decoupling, within the next six hours.”
She then outlined the project hierarchy. Seven would serve as the lead project manager, with Ensign Harry Kim acting as her primary Starfleet liaison. Harry, sitting across from her, gave a sharp, slightly nervous nod, clearly aware of the monumental task ahead.
Janeway sat at the head of the table, leaning back with a cup of coffee that had long since gone cold. She listened intently, interjecting with a few sharp, tactical questions about the impact on ship-wide sensors, but her focus was compromised. Every time Seven adjusted a holographic element or leaned over the table to highlight a data point, Kathryn felt that familiar, traitorous tug in her chest.
Beside her, Chakotay sat in a relaxed posture, but his dark eyes weren't on the holograms. He was watching the subtle play of expressions on Janeway’s face; the way her gaze lingered on Seven a second too long, and the way she quickly looked away whenever Seven glanced back.
The elephant in the room was massive. No one breathed a word about Seven’s declaration or the mountain of gifts currently suffocating the Captain’s Ready Room, yet the mood in the room betrayed them all. There was a suppressed smile on B'Elanna’s face, an intensified focus from Tuvok, and a general air of amused expectancy from the Etharian technicians.
As Seven concluded her presentation, the silence that followed was heavy with unspoken thoughts.
"The timeline is ambitious, Seven," Janeway finally said, her voice regaining its command authority. "But I have full confidence in you and Mr. Kim. Proceed with phase one immediately."
"Acknowledged, Captain," Seven replied, her blue eyes meeting Kathryn's with a depth of meaning that had nothing to do with the work ahead.
As the officers stood to leave, the room emptied quickly, the crew eager to start the work and perhaps to give their Captain some breathing room. Only Chakotay remained behind, gathering his PADDs with agonizing slowness until the doors hissed shut, leaving him alone with Janeway.
He leaned against the table, a knowing, gentle smirk finally breaking across his face. "So," he started, his voice low and teasing. "Are we adding 'Project Management' to the list of things your Soulmate is brilliant at?"
Janeway groaned, dropping her head into her hands. "Not you too, Chakotay."
“Kathryn,” Chakotay said, stepping closer. “The whole ship is talking about it, she already have “the Captain’s girlfriend” as a nickname. And let’s not talk about the Etharians practically planning a wedding, and Seven… Well, she isn't exactly a woman of half-measures.”
Janeway dropped her head into her hands, a weary laugh escaping her. “What is this, Chakotay? It’s absurd. A woman way younger than me, dressed like a knight in shining armor, a woman who is breathtakingly beautiful, incredibly intelligent, and has a mouth as sharp as her sword is declaring that we are Soulmates, meant to be. The whole situation is ridiculous.”
She looked up at him, her eyes searching for a reason to retreat. “I have responsibilities. I’m the Captain of this ship. I can’t just indulge myself in a relationship that has no future. We’re thousands of light-years from home, and she belongs to a different world.”
Chakotay leaned against the edge of the briefing table, his expression softening into that knowing, patient smile. “If there’s no future to it, Kathryn, then why not indulge yourself? If it’s destined to end, there are no long-term consequences to fear. You’re both human, no need for the doctor’s approval. She clearly wants you, and don't try to lie to me, I’ve seen the way you look at her. You find her just as attractive as she finds you.”
He reached out, placing a grounding hand on her shoulder. “You’ve spent years carrying the weight of this entire crew. My advice? Stop fighting the current for once. Sometimes, the best thing a Captain can do is just… go with the flow. See where it takes you.”
Janeway sighed, the tension in her shoulders finally beginning to give way. “Since when did you become a matchmaker, Commander?”
“Since I saw my Captain finally meet her match,” he replied with a wink, heading toward the door.